Pyroxylin compound



NHED Sterne.

JOHN II. STEVENS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE CELLULOTDCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NFHV JERSEY.

ereoxvun cowiso UN o SPECIFICA'EION forming part of Letters latent'ld'o.608,727, dated August 9, 1898.

Application filed April 6, 1898. Serial No. 878,639. (No specimens.) I

To all whom it may conccrn:

Be it kn own that 1, JOHN ll. STEVENS, of the city of Newark, county ofEssex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a certainnew and usefulPyroxylin Composition of Matter, of which the following is aspecification.

Pyroxylin compositions of matter are subject to acid decompositionunless protected tionof matter which is capable of being used for allpurposes to which these compounds are applied and which at the same timeis not subject to aciddecomposition;- In the absence of pigments itisalso capable of forming highly transparent eiiects. This new compositionof matter consists of 'pyroxylin associated with iactamid, either withor with: out solvents or other substances usually employed in thesecompounds. The lactamid can be readily combined with all solutions ofpyroxylin by reason of its'ready solubility in alcoholic solvents.-Where acetone solutions are used, as in smokeless-powder manufactnre,the lactamid can be introduced in wood I spirit solutions.

In treating pyroxylin'which is to be used in a dry state it can bedissolved in water 'or other liquid which is a non-solvent of thepyroxylin. hen closely combined with pyroxylin or its mixtures lactamid,imparts to the pyrox lin or its com .ounds the property of rco 1 sistingacid decomposition.

As to proportions, I find that from one percent. to two per cent, byweight, of the lactamid. to the amount of pyroxylin is sufficient.

The two per cent. gives the strongest preserving power. Even less thanone per cent.

can be used with success in cases where the compound is not to besubjected to severe conditions of treatment, such as prolonged or highheat. More than two per cent. can be used, but it is unnecessary and aptto result in a weakening or discoloring of the material as the amountisincreased. Ido not confine myself to any proportions of the lactamid.

The nature and methods of making pyroxylin and its compounds are wellknown and require no further description.

Lactamid is well known to chemists as the amid of lactic acid,its-chemical formula being Ol-l,CH(O.lI).GO.NI-I,. It is best proparedby acting on the lactic esters with gas! 'eous ammonia. -Other methodsof produc-. tion are known, but the above is to be preferred.

Having fully instructed the operator in my invention, whatlclaim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Anew composition of mattenconsisting of pyroxylin and lactainid.

2. Anew composition of matter consisting of pyroxylin and a solvent ofthe same assoc'iated with lactamid. I

A new transparent composition of matter containing pyroxyli-n andlactamid.

. JGHN ll. STEVENS.

Witnesses: ABRAHAM Mauritius, .7. W. FAIToN'rn.

